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battle of (Bettysburg 



Ol)e Pallid of (BettYsbur^ 



Contributed to the Semi-Centennial 
Commemoration of 



Americas (Greatest (Ton flic t 



AND 



Dedicated to the Honor and Memory 
of the living and the dead, with special 
mention of the Immortal Charge of 
The First Minnesota Volunteer In- 
fantry and of General Pickett's Division 



Minneapolis, Minnesota 



Copyrighted A. D., 1913 






•/^ 



/(o 



J< 5ol6ier 5 Soliloquy 

Who can measure tlie span of life, 

When armies meet in mortal strife? 

For none may know Avhat hour will grace 

The fatal field his resting place. 

Oh 1 that hostility at war's dark brink. 

Might pause a moment in which to think, 

To measure the misery and count the cost, 

Whether the cause is won or lost. 

For sober reflection and serious thought 
Often the nobler lesson taught. 
That injured feelings and Avounded pride 
Will never justify homicide. 
Often the greater pleasure know 
That friends are made of many a foe. 
And wrongs endured and then forgiven 
Keceive the richest rewards of Heaven. 



I 



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:i.A349706 



I5^e ^ftattle of (Bett^sburg 

The Southern Army, of General Lee, 
In the sultry summer of 'C3, 
Two years after the war had be<»un. 
Commenced an advance on Washington. 
Home the Northern Army to drive. 
Numbered in thousands, seventy-five, 
Seasoned veterans every one, 
Flushed by victories recently won. 

But as soon as the warning was sounded forth, 
That General I-/ee was marching north, 
The Union Army, of General Meade, 
Eagerly heard, and quickly agreed. 
To stop his advance, whatever betide 
And forward move with rapid stride, 
To mass along the enemy's track, 
Bringing their rear from thirty miles back. 

No swamps or tangled forests there. 

The valley was clear and the hills were bare, 

So army maneuvers could plainly be seen, 

Compared with the usual natural screen. 

The Southern Army approached from the West, 

Seeking a height to serve it best. 

Chose Seminary Ridge, just west of the town. 

From which to gain its higher renown. 

This range of hills on the lirst of July, 
Was held by Reynolds as the foe drew nigh, 
But on that day the Southern fire 
Forced the Union troops to slowly retire. 
For only the foremost army guard. 
Stood ready the Southern attack to ward, 
And when they faced the Southern gun. 
They were outnumbered two to one. 

But the Union generals knowing the land. 

Decided at length to make a stand. 

To the east and south of the little village. 

Along the line of Cemetery Ridge. 

The strategy first was this ridge to gain, 

The next, to be ready the same to maintain. 

Against every attack, that I.ee might lend. 

In the Union lines to force a rend. 



Thus, two parallel ridges, the village knew, 
Gave one to the Gray, the other the Blue, 
As the Goddess of Justice might fairly stand- 
Placing equal gifts in children's hands. 
But the Southern generals viewed with suspicion 
The Federal Army's latest position. 
And, true to the story frequently told, 
Planned to drive it again from its new stronghold. 

Meanwhile rushed troops, guns, supplies, and all. 

Answering their struggling country's call, 

The front to reach with utmost speed, 

Obeying the orders of General Meade. 

The midnight march, the season hot. 

The late defeat they all forgot. 

The single phrase on every tongue, 

''We'll stop Lee's advance on Washington." 

On July the second, till the hour of four 
The day in peace Avas passing o'er 
This valuable time was probably spent. 
In bringing up many a re-enforcement. 
But by that time the foes unite 
On both the armies left and right, 
In deadly conflict's awful strife, 
With terrible loss of human life. 

The Union right could not withstand 
The greater number of Ewell's command 
And must resign, against its will, 
Its favorite position on little Gulp's hill. 
And the quaint peach orchard and Devil's Den 
Were literally strewn with dying men. 
Whose widows and orphans had been bereft 
By Longstreet's crash on the Union left. 

Such deadly conflict not long could last, 
But General Sickles his ground held fast, 
Eefusing his chosen position to yield 
To the left and about the yellow wheat field. 
The Generals exerted their utmost power ; 
Well they knew 'twas a critical hour, 
For the IJnion left rolled back to its right. 
Would put the entire army to flight. 



Longstreet's veterans and Sickles' men 
Were eacli pressed back, but rallied again, 
And neither a slight advantage gained, 
To reward his terrible loss sustained, 
Till near the hour of closing day 
When the Union left at last gave way, 
Was backward borne, in haste at length, 
By General Longstreet's superior strength. 

As Xapoleon Bonaparte at Waterloo, 
Arose in his stirrups, the foe to view 
In full retreat, and deemed before 
The close of day the battle is o'er. 
So Longstreet flushed with joy to see 
The Federal left before him flee. 
And forward pressed the foe's retreat 
HJe deemed commencing their defeat. 

But he reckoned not on Hancock brave 
To rescue victory from the grave, 
The retreating corps determined to stop. 
He rode in haste toward Little Round Top. 
The General's mind perceived at a glance 
The Southern Army's rapid advance, 
The western ridge about to gain 
And great advantage thus attain. 

He saw his re-enforcements move. 
The rapid pace of man to prove, 
The ridge to reach, the lines to form. 
To face and stop the Southern storm. 
But though his troops much faster came, 
The distance was too great to gain. 
And as the task and time combined, 
Left the Union men five minutes behind. 

Was it by man or chance designed 
That General Hancock there should find 
A handful of men, by Destiny lent. 
Of the First Minnesota Regiment? 
Detached a minor duty to fill. 
Or held in reserve at the crest of the hill, 
Measured by numbers, oh, what a few I 
Onlv two hundred sixtv-two ! 



straight to this little command he rode, 
That round its standard firmly stood, 
To Colonel Colwell, standing ahead, 
"Charge those lines !" the General said. 
The men all knew the reason why 
They saw their comrades past them fly. 
All covered with blood, with smoke and dust. 
Terrible proof of the enemy's thrust. 

As grizzly bear defends her young. 

So forward every soldier sprung, 

Holding his natural life at naught 

When Washington's defense was being fought. 

Down the slope their charge was begun, 

No man stopping to fire a gun, 

But straight at the enemy every one. 

Swift as armed men could run. 

Longstreet's division halted, broke. 
As men from sleep had just awoke, 
Wondering whether the bayonets' gleam 
Was real, or only a midday dream. 
Just where a stream, though summer-dried. 
The struggling armies would divide. 
The rushing lines of Southern men 
Paused to cross and form again. 

Paused to wonder and suppress 
The strange emotions they confess, 
Deeming the forms they see ahead 
Avenging spirits of the dead. 
For mortal strength could hardly hold 
A line of steel so firm and bold. 
And charge, with such cadence along, 
Upon an army half so strong. 

Oh! if Stonewall Jackson then 

In fiery charge had led his men — 

No handful of men and gentle rill 

Checked Jackson's charge at Chancellorsville. 

But General Jackson then was dead. 

On that fatal field had bled 

From his legions bosom-torn 

His spirit high and higher borne. 



Two moments passed, the trance was broke, 
The line blazed forth in flame and smoke, 
And poured a seeminfj hail of lead 
Upon the charging: column's head. 
Thin thoujjh their ranks, they thinner grew — 
Honor that two hundred sixty-two ; 
Nearly all were called to Heaven, 
Left in line but forty-seven. 

Engross each name on plates of gold, 

Make the letters plain and bold, 

Kepeat the story I relate 

How those men of the North Star State 

By fiercest charge, so strange to tell. 

O'er the southern Host cast an awe-struck spell 

And more than likely saved the day. 

The Southern right by holding at bay 

Until fresh troops could be supplied 

To fill the place of those who died. 

For all the Southern shot and shell, 
Which on that little band that fell, 
Checked not its forward rush until 
The re-enforcements gained the hill. 
And Longstreet's division then fell back 
To await a general artillery attack. 
Before his infantry again could face 
The Federal left entrenched in place. 

The Southern host thereby was stayed, 

The little Brook had lent its aid, 

But, oh ! what an awful price was paid 

By the little band that charge which made ! 

With the silent shades of gathering night 

Ended the second day's awful fight ; 

But the Union troops sank down to rest 

On the blood-stained ridge and Round Top's crest. 

Who could have guessed that a little rill 
Could lend its aid for good or ill, 
As though its modest banks command 
A mighty host to pause and stand; 
Until the little band could hear 
The warning sound of danger near. 
And answer forth by charge and cheer 
That thrilled the Southern host with fear. 



By the next day's rays of morning light, 
Renewed the struggle on the Union right, 
Which then regained, though at highest cost, 
The favorite hill so lately lost. 
Thus General Lee had dearly proved 
The Union left could not be moved. 
And the Union right had shown its skill 
To regain a lost position at will. 

One course remained, he'd risk it all, 
On this success must stand or fall ; 
Desperate to find a crevice to enter 
He'd hurl his army on the Union center. 
But ere his grand assault would make 
His field artillery in place would take, 
The Union lines to quiver and shake. 
As trembles a reed in a mighty earthquake. 

But the Union Army received the shock 
By returning shell and cannon shot. 
Nearly three hundred guns that fateful day 
In the deadly duel were brought into play. 
Over half of which served the Southern land, 
And the rest submitted to Northern command. 
Never before under American rule 
Raged such a terrible artillery duel. 

General Hunt, at length, had deemed it best, 

That his artillery be given a rest ; 

For the rapid fire and scorching sun 

Was heating every Federal gun. 

And then again, I faintly surmise, 

Meade cunningly planned a little surprise. 

For the Southern division that soon would make 

A final attack his center to break. 

When the Southern Generals heard no more 

The Northern Artillery's awful roar, 

They deem their own artillery ought 

On the enemy's cannon destruction had wrought, 

The Union center, General Lee 

On yonder ridge could plainly see, 

And ordered Pickett, without delay, 

To sweep the Union lines away. 



And Goneral Lonjistreot's roiiiniaiul will try 
The Union center asunder to pry ; 
And then each wing to crush at will, 
As grain was ground in the old stone mill. 
Though conscious that terrible danger still 
Might lurk in those lines at the crest of the hil 
Pickett moves forward witli stately stride, 
For Southern honor and Southern pride. 

But as his division, with stately grace, 
Is sweeping forward, the danger to face. 
Like thunder's awful shock and roar, 
That breaks the calm that was before. 
The Union Artillery again awoke. 
Shaking the earth with its terrible stroke. 
With blazing mouth and sulphurous breath 
Roaring defiance and breathing death. 

But forward they move all undismayed, 
For Pickett's men were never afraid. 
Facing the cannister shell and shot ' 
The infantry fire 'most melting hot. 
But they close their ranks and SAveep along. 
As if to sing their Southern song, 
They hold their lines and give their yell. 
Though men by the thousands forward fell. 

General Lee slightly bowed his head, 
His steady eyes were turning red. 
And emblems of the gathering rain 
Pressed on his cheek a moistened stain. 
For General Lee dearly loved his men, 
As he in turn was beloved by them, 
And, true to his lineage by nature refined. 
The noblest men are most tender and kind. 

But he sees the Union line give way, 
Before the gallant Pickett's sway. 
Who o'er the foremost ramparts hoist 
The banner of the Southern host. 
A moment there, then down it falls, 
Pierced by a hundred minie-balls. 
And Pickett's foremost troops, in vain. 
Strive to raise their flag again. 



The tiger, ere his leap he takes, 
A backward crouch he always makes. 
The surer footing to secure, 
The greater struggle to endure. 
Even so the foremost troops recoil 
Before the Southern savage toil ; 
And then wheel forward at command. 
And meet their foemen hand to hand. 

As raging billows, with mighty roar, 

Rear and lash a rock-bound shore. 

And then, all shattered into spray and foam, 

Backward rolled with faltering moan, 

So Pickett's command, with mighty shock, 

Hurled with such vengeance against the rock, 

All shattered and broken in dread defeat. 

Sheer, turn and then retreat. 

Back to the ramparts lately made, 
Where wounded lion his lair had laid ; 
Too crippled and worn from which to go. 
Again to face the Federal foe. 
So man may strive Avith every might 
His foe to place in vanquished flight ; 
But the hand of Destiny Divine, 
The threads of victory may entwine. 

The task assigned Meade was nobly done ; 

He stopped Lee's advance on Washington, 

And the Goddess of Victory seldom shed 

A more glorious prize than crowned his head, 

But General Meade well knew when 

A wounded lion in his den 

Is better missed than sought, until 

He leaves his lair by his own free will. 

As the Southern Generals gather again. 
They find they have lost a third of their men. 
So the Southern Army must now turn South, 
Away from the Northern cannon's mouth. 
And back to the land of swamps and pine. 
Where thickets thrive and rivers twine; 
Where nature's hand might still caress 
A wounded lion in distress. 



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And o'or the fallen martyr's lioaps 
Tho I'nion Soldier (jnicklv leaps, 
To ])ross the foe in hot pnrsnit, 
And to defeat to add a ronte ; 
The Victorious Arihy at first would go, 
To crush the remnants of their foe, 
But, victory <»ained is best secure 
And impulse ruled hy caution pure. 

So Aveary and worn withal were they, 
^larching by night and tight iiic; by day. 
To the realms of slumber so tirmly bound 
Were scarce avroke by the cannon's sound. 
And again, the most doleful task is ahead, 
To care for the wounded and bury the dead, 
But the victorious army was ready to lend 
Equal aid to foe or friend. 

Perchance, pursuit to help prevent. 
The Heavens Avere by the thunders rent, 
And lightning flashed from the sky — 
The Gods of War to help defy, 
The sun, as though ashamed to shed 
The light of day upon the dead. 
Within the clouds withheld his rays. 
To wait the dawn of happier days. 

The bloody stains fain to erase. 

From troubled Earth's distorted face, 

And cleanse the battlefield again. 

The Heavens poured forth a drenching rain. 

So Nature deigned to shed a tear. 

As Mother weeps o'er infant bier, 

And the darkest clouds would hover low 

As if to hide the mortal woe. 

Oh, GettyesburgI o'er your verdant hills 
No more the piercing war-cry thrills 
The lagging trooper of the day, 
Or wakes the weary dreamer for the fray. 
Pray let no hostile sound distress 
The final slumber of the blessed; 
Marked by the stone above the head 
Of manv a known and unknown dead. 



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im 27 1913 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



013 702 158 4 • 



